Ellis set to hold “wake” for smoking ban [UPDATE]

Despite his best efforts, state Sen. Rodney Ellis, D-Houston, appears unlikely to get his statewide smoking ban passed this session.

Ellis has called a news conference — or, as someone just noted, a “wake” — for the bill after the senate adjourns this afternoon. He’s expected to be accompanied by “health advocates” from across the state at the event.

The bill seemed to lose steam yesterday as Ellis (and follow ban supporter Rep. Carol Alvarado, D-Houston) worked the floor intensely but wasn’t able to convince enough of his colleagues to consider the measure. Alvarado even got down on a knee at the desk of Sen. Mario Gallegos, D-Houston, in an effort to convince him.

As we’ve noted, Ellis prides himself on filing long shot bills and then pushing them session after session until they ripen. Looks like this idea might have to wait until next time.

UPDATE: Ellis released a statement saying he was “terribly disappointed” with the lack of support in the Senate: “Make no mistake, a uniform, smoke-free workplace standard for Texas will happen, sooner rather than later.” Full statement after the jump…

(Austin)// Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston) today announced that the effort to pass smoke-free Texas legislation has fallen short in the Texas Senate. The announcement ends a months-long effort by Senator Rodney Ellis (D-Houston), Representative Myra Crownover (R-Denton) and Lieutenant Governor David Dewhurst to build enough support to pass the measure into law.

Senate Bill 544 would have eliminated smoking in indoor public places, including municipal worksites and private worksites including restaurants, restaurant bars and stand-alone bars. The legislation would have levied a maximum fine of $100 for owners, managers or operators, but exempted cigar bars and tobacco shops.

“I am terribly disappointed that we were unable to ban smoking in public places,” said Senator Ellis. “Make no mistake, a uniform, smoke-free workplace standard for Texas will happen, sooner rather than later” said Ellis. “The vast majority of Texans understand the impact smoking has on our health and our economy. The legislation would have improved the health of Texans and save our state billions of dollars in health care costs over time.”

“Big tobacco spent millions to kill smoke-free legislation and they got to enough of our legislators to win this round. On the state level we have to hit pause but in local governments across Texas we’re mobilizing starting June 1st. Nearly seventy percent of Texans support comprehensive smoke-free legislation and we want safe, smoke-free work places where we can earn a living. As we’ve seen in states all over America, it’s just a matter of time before our efforts succeed. We are not intimidated by big tobacco and we will not give up.” Lance Armstrong, founder and chairman of the Lance Armstrong Foundation.

Senate Bill 544, supported by the American Cancer Society, American Heart Association, the Texas Restaurant Association and others, was derailed in large measure due to an intense lobbying efforts by tobacco companies. According to the Dallas Morning News, Big Tobacco interests have hired 40 lobbyists and are spending between $1.2 and $2.4 million lobbying against the smoking ban and a new formula for taxing chewing tobacco.